Eileenja

I work in a very large high school and today in work, I saw someone whom I had not seen in a while and she called me over and said "Wow - look at you you have lost so much weight - what are you doing - are you having an affair?" I said "I don't think so" but I laughed so hard because I have not shared with most of the people in school my little Lap Band secret. Is that an NSV?

i can feel my port and it is directly beneath my incision

Hello everyone. I am six weeks post - op and was doing great until this week when I discovered cheez-its! Once I had a few, i just kept going back for more and I am having a hard time stopping. Does anyone have any quick fixes to get me to not eat cheez-its?

Suzy You have to do the research on this. I wish I could tell you that it is the right thing for you, but honestly only you can decide this one. Try talking to people who have had the surgery. I researched this for two years, then I met two people who actually had the surgery and once I saw that they survived, I knew it was the right thing for me. It has been six weeks, and although I still struggle to stay on track, I know that it was the right thing to do. Good luck with your decision! Eileen

Wendy Sorry, i have no idea what i did with your phone #, but i'll have to get it again tomorrow at support group. We missed you last time. I think it's back at Mauri's office this time. Maybe we should give her a call just to make sure. It really is hard trying to keep on target, but they did tell us that before the surgery. I notice that one of the postings says that they can have canned ravioli - I thought that we were not supposed to have any Pasta? Eileen

Jack - I have a question for you. I have been reading lots of your replies in all of the different areas and I have to say that you really have it together. Here is the question - How did you get there? I have been dieting for many years and even with the band, I don't always make the right choices, yet you seem to be able to.

Porcin... Take it easy - you can do this!!! Don't be so hard on yourself. Have you had any sugar free Jello or fat free sugar free ice pops - these got me through so much in the beginning. You can even add some fat free redi whip - yummmmmmmm! By the way, I started eating mushies a few days before i was supposed to and they said that wasn't that bad. I just felt like I needed to chew. Maybe that is what you need to do. You could, if you wanted to have a little tuna with a teaspoon of mayo - it just might do it. Let me know Eileen

Thank you to all who answered my question. Jack was the funny one - Step away from those Cheez-its now! I could hear a funny tone in that response and I started to laugh! I realize that the best way is no cheez-its at all, but I have been on a binge since my daughter offered me just a few - and you all know the rest. I will go to support group this monday night and confess my cheating. So far today, I have not had one bad thing and I plan on turning over a new leaf. It is all willpower - even with the band! Thanks again, Eileen

Rena - Whatever made you think this was a waste of time. I had surgery only 6 weeks ago and already lost 30 pounds. This is not a quick fix and my doctor made me fully aware of that. You still have to follow a diet, you have to exercise and you have to follow up with your health care providers. Yes, as my doctor told me ice cream will go down - so you do need the will power to handle this. What it does is decrease the capacity of your stomach, but you need to learn what to eat, how to eat (very slowly) and when to stop eating. You can do this. I thoroughly recommend a support group in your area. I love going to mine and I come home with some solid information every time that I can definately put to good use. Whatever you do, don't give up - it is definately worth it! Eileen

Good for you - the tuna probably will help you a lot! Hope to see you Monday night! Eileen

Jorget Do you have any sugar free jello or diluted apple juice - how about fat free, sugar free ice pops - these all really helped me get through a few rough spots. Eileen

Hi Porcindoll I know you are anxious - I was and I am sure everybody is - but honestly it isn't that bad. I almost chickened out when I was on the OR table. Really - it did cross my mind but I am so glad that I didn't have the guts to say it. I don't have one regret about my surgery and I hope that you won't either. Eileen P.S. Good luck - next week! Dr. Kwon is an excellent doctor

Congratulations! Eleven months! You are ten months ahead of me - 80 lbs lost!!! Wow!!!!! Good for you! Keep up the good work! Eileen

Jorget - my doctor says benefiber and it works!!

4/25/05 Breakfast 1/2 C cottage cheese - protein 14- carbs 7 - calories 30 1 egg - protein 6.25 protein - carbs .6- calories 75 water coffee lunch portabella veggie burger - protein 7 - carbs 20 - calories 100 3 ou. spinach 3 ou salad - protein 1 - carbs 3 - calories 15 dressing - protein -0 carbs - 0 - calories 20 Dinner 3.5 ou chicken breast - protein - 33 carbs - 0 - calories 159 3 ou. spinach 3 ou salad - protein 1 - carbs 3 - calories 15 dressing - protein -0 carbs - 0 =- calories 20 Totals - Protein - 62 Carbs - 21 Calories - 434?

I find it amazing that every doctor allows different foods/water at different stages!

The Catalina chicken sounds delicious - I think I will try it! Thanks! Eileen

from the time I entered the OR till I woke up in recovery - it was about 1 hour!

yes - Jorget I was at Mauri's last meeting. I said that I had surgery on 3/23 and spoke about having a hard time eating slow enough. By the way, I love those meetings because they have no set agenda and they go whereever they need to go! I am always able to take some valuable information home with me and put it to very good use. See you next week. Eileen Eileen

I have one whole month experience and I am telling you that you will be absolutely fine! My doctor is very strict - i was able to have 3 ounces of Water for the first few days (until my first visit) with a little diluted apple juice and fat free juice pops and I survived! You will too - just give it a little more time. I was getting pretty hungry last week and they told me that I could add 3 ou. salad with lunch and dinner and let me tell you - what a difference that made! I am completely satisfied. Keep you chin up - you can do this ! Eileen

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that you will soon find out that this is the best thing you have ever done for yourself!!!!

4/24/05 Breakfast 1/2C FF Cottage Cheese - 14 protein - 7 carbs - 90 calories water lunch Portabella mushroom veggie burger - 7 protein - 10 carbs - 100 calories 3 ou. salad - 1 protein - 3 carbs - 15 caloreis 2 tbsp dressing - 0 protein - 0 carbs - 20 calories water ice pop - sugar free - Dinner Salmon - 4 ou. Protein - 28 g - carbs 0 - calories 260 Spinach - 3 ou. - protein 2- carbs 3 - calories - 30 salad - 3 ou. - protein - 1 - carbs 3 - calories - 15 2 tbsp dressing - protein 0 - carbs 0 - caories - 20 Totals - Protein - 53 carbs - 26 (oops!) calories - 550

Congratulations!!!! What a great NSV!!!!! I can't wait to go shopping (although it will be a while for me since I have enough clothes to go down 2 whole sizes) Some of them even still have the tags on them!!! Eileen

4/22/05 Breakfast 2 eggs 12.5 g protein - 10 g fat - 150 calories - carbs 1.2 1 slice veggie cheese 6 g protein - 0 fat - 60 calories - carbs 1 2 bottles of water Lunch 1 can tuna 27 g protein, 3 g fat - 145 calories - carbs 0 3 ou salad - 1 protein, 2 g fat - 15 calories - carbs 3 2 tbsp dressing 0 protein - 1.5 g fat - 15 calories - carbs - 0 Dinner 4 ou turkey burger - 28 g protein - .5 g fat - 120 calories - carbs 0 3 ou salad - 1 protein, 2 g fat - 15 calories - carbs 3 2 slices veggie cheese 6 g protein - 0 fat - 60 calories - carbs 1 total - 81 g protein 25 g fat calories - 580 carbs 9.2 so - i guess i ate too much fat!!!! it's supposed to be under 20 - isn't it!

[code] I know this sounds funny, but yesterday was my first post-op visit!!! Lost 12 pounds!!! Ok, so I am finally allowed to have shakes - yippee!!!! Here is the thing, about 1 - 2 minutes after each sip, I feel the shake going down and you wouldn't believe the sound it makes. I am sure that if someone was here, there would hear it and comment. Also, i feel full and i am only half-way through my morning shake. [/code] I'VE GOT THE POWER!!!:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana